Under a cadetship scheme, scholars who get their university fees paid for by President Robert Mugabe's government would now be compelled to join the civil service and would not be allowed to emigrate for several years, state radio announced.

"To curb the exodus of medical staff, plans are under way to re-introduce the cadetship programme, while graduates will be bonded to the service of the state for a period equal to the period of their training."

The strategy aims to ensure that DFAT continues to attract talented Indigenous Australians and to increase the number of Indigenous Australians employed in the department through the Indigenous cadetship and graduate recruitment programs, and lateral recruitment.